Our View: A little perspective on climate change and Paris

Sunday

Jun 4, 2017 at 7:15 PM

Daily Press Editorial Board

While President Trump’s decision Thursday to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord drew worldwide consternation, let’s bring a little perspective to energy production and consumption in America.

For one, the U.S. has been among the world leaders in renewable energy production for years and it is unlikely that President Trump’s decision will alter that in the near or even long term.

Why? Americans are among the world’s largest consumers of energy. Although we account for only 5 percent of the world’s population, we also account for about 24 percent of the world’s energy consumption. The good news is since the 1970s, we also have been among the world’s most environmentally conscious.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Association, miles per gallon, or fuel economy, was at its worst in 1970 (12.0 mpg for all vehicles) and at its best in 2015, the last year statistics are available (17.9 mpg for all vehicles, 23.9 mpg for light-duty vehicles).

Carbon dioxide emissions per capita are the lowest in 60 years, and primary energy consumption is at its lowest levels since the late 1960s, the USEIA says.

In 2016, about 10 percent of total U.S. energy production came from renewable sources; in electricity, that figure was about 15 percent. California’s total is even more impressive, 29 percent, and state mandates will ensure the continued rise of that figure.

The production and consumption of renewable energy in the U.S. more than doubled between 2000 and 2016. And the USEIA predicts increased production and consumption of renewable energy will continue at least through 2040.

Renewable energy remains more costly to produce than energy from traditional sources, such as gas and oil. But as technology advances, there is every reason to believe the cost difference will continue to slide or even be eliminated.

Let’s face it, too, many Americans already willingly pay higher prices for such things as electric cars, solar rooftop panels and LED lighting in order to reduce their carbon footprints.

According to the US Department of Energy, light-emitting diode (LED) lights have the potential to render useless 44 large electric power plants by 2027. That’s because residential LED use has the potential to fundamentally change America’s lighting future. LEDs use at least 75 percent less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs. Over the next 10 years, the sale and use of LED lighting in homes is expected to make a major dent in electrical usage.

Let’s also not forget that America already ranks in the top 5 worldwide in solar production and among the top 2 worldwide in wind energy production. We doubt that’s going to change, despite Trump’s action.

And as technology advances, we envision a future where climate change no longer casts the pall over the globe that it does today.